Deer-related collision is safety reminder

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 - 9 a.m. - An 18-year-old county woman crashed into an East Whitlock Road embankment on Tuesday after swerving to avoid a deer, the local CHP office has reported.

Michelle Linn, 18, was transported to John C. Fremont Hospital with minor injuries following the 9:30 a.m. incident.

Vehicle incidents related to collisions and near-collisions with deer, bear and other animals occur regularly in the county. The possibility of encountering obstacles makes driving at a "prudent speed" a key safety precaution, local CHP Sgt. Chris Michael said.

"You never know what is waiting for you around each curve," Sgt. Michael said.

Ernie - in a simple nutshell: no, there's no evidence they actually work. I first started looking into those things a good thirty years ago and could find no evidence they do anything to prevent deer collisions. More recently, there have studies done by (among other groups) the Georgia Game & Fish Department, the University of Wisconsin and the Ohio State Police. All the studies showed that these whistling devices showed no effectiveness whatsoever and the prime reason: "ultra-sonic" soundwaves don't travel very far at all and even so, the hearing frequency range of deer is believed to be about the same as humans - meaning deer wouldn't even hear "ultra-sonic" whistles. Save your money!

Do the aftermarket gadgets that they sale at auto parts store work. Do law enforcement or first responders install any sort of gadgets, that make a whistling sound only animals can hear, on their vehicles. I bought and installed such a gadget a couple of years ago, but lost them going through a car wash.